Check out the new website!

I'm pleased to announce the launching of the library's new website! Same address, whole new look: www.freedompubliclibrary.org
Tell me what you think and what you'd like to see added!

Friends of the Library meeting

All Friends of the Library and anyone interested in becoming a Friend are invited to attend the Spring meeting at 10:00 Saturday, May 20th. This organization has done so much for the library over the years, providing funds for "extras," attracting volunteers, and organizing programs. It's an organization well worth your support!

Another kitten visits the library

Nathaneal and Philip brought their new kitten Peperuka ("Ruka" for short) to visit the library today. He checked out the place both upstairs and down and seemed to think it is a pretty nice library. He chased the feather toy and made us laugh with his kitten antics.

Packed house

Our visit last night from Ruth Law, Aviator, was well attended -- every seat taken! -- and very well received. Several aviators from surrounding towns came to the program and had some of their own stories to tell. Here is some of the crowd and, in the foreground, various hats used by the performer Barbara Miles to show the passage of time, as she chronicled the amazing life and adventures of Ruth Law.

15-2, 15-4 and a pair for 6

Cribbage anyone? We are thinking it might be fun to get people together to play cribbage. Either a one-time deal or an on-going gathering, depending on interest. If you are interested, we've got a list going at the library or you can email Elizabeth at freedomlibrary@adelphia.net to say what days and times would be best for you and don't forget your phone number.

Don't Miss "Meet Ruth Law, Aviator"

On Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 7:00 pm, the Freedom Public Library will host Barbara Miles performing as Ruth Law, the Granite State’s first female aviator.

On December 2, 1916, Ruth Law flew out of the darkness. Wing tips ablaze with magnesium flares and a neon sign reading “LIBERTY” trailing from her aeroplane, she circled the Statue of Liberty as its floodlights were lit for the very first time. Ms. Law earned her pilot’s license in 1912, the same year that she purchased her first aircraft from Orville Wright. She was so successful a pilot that at the height of her ten-year career, she earned as much as $9000 a week for exhibition flights. Come to the Freedom Public Library to meet the first woman in America authorized to wear a military uniform (although her application to fly combat missions in WWI was turned down), the first woman to perform a loop-the-loop and to fly at night, the woman who set the American distance record for nonstop cross-country flight for both men and women.

The Friends of the Freedom Public Library is pleased to present Barbara Miles as she assumes the character and costume of this internationally accomplished patriot and pilot. The performance is made possible by a grant from the New Hampshire Humanities Council and is free and open to all ages. Refreshments will be served. Please call the Freedom Public Library at 539-5176 for more information.

Meghan and Cookie... or is it Ashley??

I knew the difference the day they came, but now I forget which kitty is which. Meghan poses with one of the sweet tortoiseshell kitties that visited the library recently.

Kitten visitors

Amanda & Katie brought their beautiful tortoiseshell kittens, Cookie & Ashley, for a visit yesterday. Louie's tail puffed up like a feather duster but his opinion was definitely in the minority around here!

They weren't puzzled about what to do when the lights went out

A good crowd came to see "The Man Who Would Be King" last Sunday but the electricity went out before it got started. We waited til 4:20 and then decided to postpone the showing to Sunday, April 9th at 4:00 (please come!) Of course, as soon as everyone drove away the power came back on. C'est la vie! Some of the hopeful movie-watchers worked on our ongoing jigsaw puzzle while we waited for power to be restored.

First Teen Program a Success

We made cool things with beads, we ate a lot of popcorn, we played Apples To Apples, we brainstormed ideas for future teen events, we ate pizza & we watched "Tim Burton's Corpse Bride." Fun!

Library Cats

Yay! Now I'm happy! I got my picture made with Baker & Taylor, the mascots of the Baker & Taylor company (who supply most of the books purchased by the library.) When I realized I'd left my camera card in the card reader in my hotel room I raced to get it before the photo op was over... huff, puff, whew! I am getting some good exercise at the Hynes Convention Center today (including 25 minutes of lap swimming at the hotel pool this morning.) Even though I am staying at the convention the rest of the afternoon, must now pack my bags and start loading the car because must check out of my room by noon.

More PLA

I haven't had the best luck getting good pictures here at PLA. This picture of me was taken on Wednesday at a delicious free lunch given by EBSCO, which provides databases to libraries (including ours, through the state). The person across the table who I recruited to take the picture did take it, but then made a disparaging comment about people who have pictures taken of themselves. I thought it might be a little more interesting than a sign like I posted earlier, though! It also makes clear that I need to ease up on the blush a bit - my goodness I look sunburned!

The highlight of my day today was a luncheon with children's author John Szieszka (prounounced "Sheska," rhymes with Fresca) who wrote The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, Math Curse, and the Time Warp Trio books, among others. His hilarious talk was about attracting boy readers to the library, especially through humor. He had the enthusiastic audience laughing non-stop. I think I have a favorite author now. I deeply regret not getting a good picture of him... Actually, I really wanted a picture of me AND him, but I was afraid that woman would give me a hard time about it, ha!

Linda Ellerbee

The opening session of the Public Library Association 11th annual conference featured keynote speaker Linda Ellerbee, the maverick print and television reporter who does things HER way. For the last 15 years she's been talking to kids about news in the headlines and how they feel about the world in her show "Nick News" on the Nickelodeon channel. She was funny and interesting and a great advocate for public libraries. I should put me in this picture with Linda, but I don't have the photoshop skills for that. Time to head to the exhibits! I brought an old backpack of Mary's so I can stock up on freebies... Hope I get some good stuff...

In Boston for the Public Library Assoc. Conference

Hello to Freedom from cloudy Boston where I am attending my first Public Library Association Conference. This morning I went to "Book Buzz" hosted by Nancy Pearl - you may have heard of her: there is a librarian action figure modeled after her! Panelists from 4 different publishing houses including Random House and HarperCollins had the difficult task of each selecting 10 upcoming books to recommend. I got some great ideas for book purchases that I think Freedom folks will enjoy. I was 20 minutes early to this presentation and found the ballroom absolutely jammed with people. I finally found a seat, but probably a hundred others weren't so lucky and had to listen from out in the lobby. There were so many people I couldn't take a decent photograph and could hardly see from way in the back, but here's a picture of the sign!

"Crash"

Film Series attendance spiked to 29 this Sunday. It seemed like most people who came thought "Crash" was deserving of the Best Picture award it received at this year's Oscars. 21 people stayed afterward for pizza dinner - many thanks to Freedom Market for not only giving us a great deal on pizzas, but bringing them to us! After dinner the gathering whittled down to 10 diehards. We played a rousing game of Apples to Apples. Peg & Joel tied for first place but we all had lots of laughs. Here are some pictures to prove it! Click on any image to see a larger version.

Our new trustee!

We are pleased that Peg Scully was elected to the Board of Trustees of the Freedom Library at Town Meeting on March 14th! Peg has been a faithful library volunteer for many years. She will continue to work her weekly shift on Fridays while also serving as Secretary of the trustees. Joyce Silke will now move into the position of President and Chuck Depew will continue on as Treasurer. Joan Grossman is now off the board, after seven great years as library trustee. Bye, Joanie! Don't forget to come water the plants!

After School at the Library

Our first Friday after-school event was a big success on March 5th with 25 students participating. Bonnie Burroughs led the Beading Basics workshop and the kids were thrilled with the bookmarks, bracelets and necklaces they made. Lots of boys participated in the Lego Club and were proud of their creations too, many of which are currently on display in the library. A record-breaking 40 adults and children attended the Pizza & Movie portion of the day where "The Iron Giant" proved to be a popular movie choice especially among the boys, whose laughter, hoots and comments entertained all the adults present. See below for a gallery of photos taken that day... and stay tuned for more fun at the Freedom Public Library!

Here's where everything went when the kids piled off the bus...















Bonnie helps Bryce with beading.

There was plenty of opportunity to be silly AND creative at the beading workshop!

Good friends Elizabeth & Heidi pose together

The boys had lots of fun with the Lego's

Pictures Galore!

Samantha Baker brought cupcakes, juice boxes and cheesecake with two toppings to last week's story time. Samantha runs a baked goods catering business called Bakers R' Baking.

Karen demonstrates on Spencer a grandmother's tried and true method for cleaning a baby's fingers.

Maggie hugs the puppy.

Henry chose a good day to visit story time!

Spencer wants to see baby Tava.

Thank you to the Friends of the Library for buying the library a camera. As you can see, I am putting it to good use!

Snuggle Boy

Louie can't get enough of Mary!

Scenes from Storytime

As you can see, we have a lot of fun on Wednesday mornings at Storytime!